I finally went on a garden tour, and boy was it wonderful.

I had such a great time! The highlight was of course Ryan Gainey's home garden, which was so sublimely cottage-y words cannot express it.

Really! I was SO inspired.

Also on the tour was a place called The Falls, which used to be a mill and has a real waterfall. The McConaugheys live on this 5-acre wildlife sanctuary-must be nice!

I also went to the house of Greg Levine of Trees Atlanta, which was such a comfortable house almost entirely planted in natives. It gives a good idea of how beautiful and neat a small home with a minimal lot can be with natives.

There was much more -- I encourage people to go on a garden tour if you've never been on one. I was able to see up close and personal what a tilia tree looks like (I like it!), what Joe Pye Weed really looks like in the fall close-up (I like it!), what a Yellowwood looks like (I'm getting one!).